WATN: Former Treasurer Gary Zeigler takes to stage, recording studio

Wednesday

Jan 1, 2014 at 12:00 PM

The man who served as Stark County's treasurer for a decade may be out of politics, but hasn't left the spotlight.

Kelli Young CantonRep.com staff writer @kyoungREP

Editor's note: This is the latest in our "Where Are They Now" series that catches up on people who at one time were featured in the pages of The Repository. Have an idea for us to pursue? Email newsroom@cantonrep.com.

He served as Stark County's treasurer for 14 years, his name becoming an automatic ballot box winner at election time.

And then four years ago, Gary D. Zeigler learned that his chief deputy treasurer was stealing money from the vault inside the treasurer's office. Federal and state authorities later determined that nearly $3 million was missing.

The betrayal set in motion the unraveling of Zeigler's future in public office, a downward spiral that dragged on for more than two years and involved an unprecedented decision by the Ohio Supreme Court to overrule his removal from office based on a flawed Ohio law.

Zeigler, who resigned as treasurer in 2011 as part of a settlement, has long left politics, but not the spotlight.

HELLO, NASHVILLE

The 62-year-old Plain Township resident, who goes by "Ziggy," has found a home on local stages performing with the group Take 3, which describes itself as a vocal and harmony dance and show act.

The group, which also includes Larry Alltop, Steve Nervo, and its most recent addition, Vicki Cordi, plays a variety of Motown, oldies and dance hits from the past for audiences mostly in Stark and Summit counties.

But Zeigler, who over the years has sung with various local bands such as "Copperfield" and "Jimmy and the Soul Blazers," also is looking to bring his music to audiences nationwide. In March, he recorded three solo country music songs in Nashville with producer Richard Donahue, president of Nashville-based Next Level Entertainment.

"We went in and did them his way; it's kind of rockin' country," Donahue said. "He wanted to do it with a horn section, and I said that's not really done. He said, 'That's what I'm talking about. Let's do something different.' He said, 'At my age, I'm going to do what I want to do.' And it turned out fine."

Donahue said Zeigler himself brought in the ballad, "Outside Looking In," while he snagged "Stompin Ground" from a Nashville songwriter catalogue. He said he helped co-write the song titled "Till Your Boots Get Dirty" with songwriter/singer Billy Croft and co-producer Danny Wells, who has written hits for country music stars George Strait and Rascal Flatts.

In an nonstudio performance of the song posted online, Zeigler dons a black hat over his familiar Wayne Newton-esque hair and a black button-down shirt as he sings:

"You ain't country till you been cow tipping, till you been skinny dipping, with something sweet off in some creek

You ain't country till you stuck your truck, knee deep in a field of mud

Way back in the sticks, that's how it is

Make the bed and back it up early

You ain't country, nah-nah, till your boots are dirty."

Donahue said Zeigler uses his years of experience in music to his advantage in the studio.

"Gary has a good ear of what suits him," Donahue said. "Gary seems to have an instinct because of his experience of what works for him."

He said he's received positive comments from music company executives, but no takers yet.

"Everybody thought it was creative and he's got a good voice," Donahue said. " ... He has a very low baritone voice, and it grabs your attention. Secondly, we put the horn section on and it's something that gives it a rockin' sound."

Under an agreement, Donahue has pledged to pitch the songs to Music City executives for a year.

"But just because a year comes and goes and we don't have a label to do it doesn't mean I'm going to stop," Donahue said. "When you've exhausted every avenue in this business ... and you are thinking it's not going to happen, that's usually when the phone rings."

PATENTED

Besides music, Zeigler also has obtained patents to make credit card transactions in stores and online safer. One patent is for a type of secure credit card that contains the owner's photo and personal identifying information on a microchip inside the card. The information appears when the retailer scans the card for a purchase and allows the cashier to verify that the person making the purchase is the owner of the card.

"The strip credit cards can be duplicated very easy," Zeigler said. "My card cannot be duplicated because of the photo in the card, much like someone trying to use your driver's license."

Zeigler said the card also can help with ATM theft. He said when someone inserts the card in the automated teller machine, the machine will take a photo. If the photo doesn't match the picture associated with the card, it will not process the transaction.

Zeigler said he already is talking to companies about producing the card and new scanners.